Gang slitting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A gang slitting apparatus for slitting tape into narrow strips by means of a plurality of strip blades in a manner which relieves pressure against the sides of the blades. The blades are positioned between rollers having a crown support surface so that the middle portion of the strips is further from the axis of the rollers than the side edges of the strip.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Edward Zychal Cornwells Heights, Pa.

[21] Appl. No. 63,377

[22] Filed Aug. 13, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971 [7 3] Assignee Zyco Manufacturing, Inc.

Cornwells Heights, Pa.

Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 774,720, Nov. 12, 1968, now Patent No. 3,545,322.

[54] GANG SLITTING APPARATUS 1 1 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

52 us. (:1 83/145, 83/20l.1 1, 83/433, 83/435, 83/661 [51] Int. Cl B26d 1/46 [50] Field of Search 83/435, 433,431,201.11,429,425,426,145

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,731,902 10 1929 Lodding 83/435 Primary Examiner.lames M. Meister Att0rneySeidel, Gonda & Goldhammer ABSTRACT: A gang slitting apparatus for slitting tape into narrow strips by means of a plurality of strip blades in a manner which relieves pressure against the sides of the blades. The blades are positioned between rollers having a crown support surface so that the middle portion of the strips is further from the axis of the rollers than the side edges of the strip.

GANG SLIT'IING APPARATUS This applicationis a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 774,720 filed on Nov. l2, l968and entitled Slitting Apparatus, now US. Pat. No. 3,545,322.

In gang slitting apparatus, a large web is slit into a plurality of narrow strips of controlled width. When using a strip blade such as that disclosed in my above-mentioned patent application, it is necessary toprovide-some'means of clearance so that side pressures-on the blade do not become so great as to lead to the destruction of the blade itself. Therefore, amajor purpose of the present invention is a structural interrelationship which provides for gang slitting while relievingside pressure against the blade.

Strip blades are extremely thin and every precaution must be taken to insure theblade cuts without undue forces against the front or sides thereof. This makes the cutting job easier and faster and prolongs the life of the blade. In addition, it reduces the heat which it develops in the blade and prevents the heat from being sufficient so as to accelerate breakdown of the cutting edge.

When forcing any strip blade material into a solid web, the usual result is the pushing up of a burr on one side of the material being slit. By relieving this pressure, the material will no longer be forced in an upward direction but rather will part in a manner with no increase in sectional dimension at the edge. In accordance with thepresent invention, the web before being cut is diverted upwardly to the gang slitting apparatus. The material or web has 180 contact with the gang slitting apparatus. Thereafter, multiple strips of the web are transmitted to banks of windup rolls in a conventional manner.

In accordance with each embodiment of the present invention, the web strips immediately after being out are permitted to assume an. arcuate disposition by means of an arcuate support or crown rollerso as to relieve the pressure-against the sides of the cutting blade. The apparatusis structurally interrelated in a manner soas to provide for micrometer accuracy with the components thereof 'being in the form of modules which may be increased or decreased'in number depending upon' the number of slits desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel gang slitting apparatus.

'It is an object of the presentinvention to provide a gang slitting apparatus which is structurally interrelated in a manner which relieves side'pressure against the blade by the cut strips.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a gang slitting apparatus adapted to cut webs with micrometer accuracy into narrow strips in a manner which substantially increases the life of the blade cutting edge.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is an endview of the gang slitting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional viewtaken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the top viewv of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectionalview taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

Referring to the'drawing. in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a gang slitting apparatus designated generally as 10. The apparatus includes an idler-roll l2-about which a web 14 is to be slit extends upwardly and around the gang cutter 16. The web 14 is slit into a plurality of'narrowstrips 18 by the gang cutter 16. The narrowstrips 18 extend around an idler roller 20 and are transmittedin the direction of arrow 22 to .banks of windup spools. The web 14 may be any one vof a wide variety of material including plastic tape, magnetic tape, etc.

The gang cutter 16 includes a shaft 24 supported at itsends by a frame not shown. At spaced points along shaft 24, there is provided a plurality of contiguoustelescoped cutting units 25, 25', 25", etc. Each cutting unit is identical. Hence, only cutting unit 25 will be described in detail.

The cutting unit 25 includes a sleeve 26 having a head 28 .at one end thereof. As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the head 28 is of enlarged diameter. The end of the sleeve 26 remote from head 28 is provided with external threads receiving a nut 30 A crown roller 32 surrounds the sleeve 26 and head28ia nd projects to the right of the nut 30, A pair of roller bearings 34 and 34' are provided. Roller bearing 34 is in abutting relationshipwith head 28 and roller bearing 34' is in abutting relation ship with the nut 30. The crown roller 32 is provided with a radially inwardly directed rib 36 which enters the space between the roller bearing 34 and 34'. An O-ring is utilized 'to assist the rib 36 in maintaining the roller bearing 34 and 34 spaced from one another.

The spanner nut 30 cooperates with the compressible O- ring 38 and provides a micrometer adjustment for the width of slit strip. The range of adjustment provided maybe approximately 10.025 inch. In the same manner the exact width of each of slit strips 18 can be adjusted.

The sleeve 26 is keyed to the shaft 24 by means of an axially disposed key 40 which enters axially disposed slots on the jux taposed surfaces of the sleeve 26 and shaft 24. A ring 42 is removably coupled to the head. 28 on a reduced diameter p'ortion thereof. The ring 42 is provided with a notch as shown more clearly at the top of FIG. I and supports a strip blade cassette 44. Ring 42 is removably coupled to the head 28 by means of a plurality of bolts 46 which extend through the ring 42 and into tapped holes in the head 28. A spring 48 is compressed between the head of each bolt 46 and the ring 42.

A stripblade 50 extends from the cassette 44, betweenthe juxtaposed mating surfaces on head 28 and ring 42 as shown more clearly in FIG. 2, and then wound on a spool 58 mounted on shaft 60. Shaft 60 may be periodically rotated to reposition a new portion of the strip blade 50 whenever a new cutting edge is desired. Alternatively, shaft 60 may be constantly rotated at a very slow rate in order to continuously renew the cutting edge of strip blade 50.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the left-hand endportion 54 of unit 25' is telescoped within the unit 25. Similarly, the left-hand end portion on unit 25" is telescoped into the unit 25'. The web 14 engages the crest of the crown rollers of each of the units. After the web is slit into strips 18, the strips 18 conform to the contour of the rollers. In a typical roller 32, the roller has a 4 inch diameter at the crest with the ends of the roller having a diameter of 3 7/8 inches. Such a crown configuration will cause the side edges of the strips 18 to drop away from the cutting edge of the blade 50.so as to relieve side pressure against the blade 50.

As shown more clearly at the upper end of FIG. 2, the outer periphery of head 28 and ring 42 corresponds to the diameter of the crown roller 32 at its maximum diameter. This arrangement provides a secure clamping arrangement for blade 50 and helps to .prevent the blade from oscillating. Shaft .24, sleeve 26, and ring 42 are stationary with respect to the web. As shown more clearly in FIG. 1', the outer peripheryof ring 42 is provided with a relief cut 52 beginning at the cutting edge of the blade 50 to approximately the 7 o'clock position. Hence, the web 14 will have contact with the crests of the crown rollers and the periphery of head 28 in between adjacent crown rollers prior to the web beingsslit. After the web has been slit into narrow strips 18, the side edges of the strips 18 may conform to the peripheral contour of the crown rollers 32.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention which is similar .to that described above. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the gang slitting apparatus is designated as 64. The apparatus 64 is preferred WhenLthe web is to be slit into very-narrow widths.

In FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the web 72 to be slit extends around idler roller 74, upwardly around the gang cutters 76, is slit into narrow strips 80 which extend around idlers 78 and then are fed to conventional banks of windup rolls. The gang cutter 76 includes a plurality of idler rollers 70, 71, 73 and 75 supported by a shaft 66. Shaft 66 extends between the frames 68 and 68'. A greater or lesser number of idler rollers may be provided as desired.

Each of the idler rollers 70, 71, 73 and 75 is keyed to the shaft 66. Also, each of said idler rollers has an axial boss so as to provide a narrow gap between the juxtaposed faces of the rollers. Strip blades 82, 82', 82" are disposed in the narrow gaps between the juxtaposed faces of the rollers. Each strip blade is identical. Hence, only strip blade 82 will be described in detail.

A cassette 84 is supported in any convenient manner below the gang cutter 76. The strip blade 82 extends from the cassette 84, up through the narrow gap between the idler rollers 70 and 71 to the left of the shaft 66 as shown more clearly in FIG. 4. The strip blade 82 is wound around a spool 85 connected to shaft M. Rotation of shaft 86 facilitates winding of the strip blade 82 in order to present a new cutting edge to the web 72. As described above with respect to blade 50, shaft 86 may be continuously rotated at a very slow speed or may be periodically rotated to provide a fresh cutting edge.

In order to relieve the side pressure of the cut strips 80 on the blades, a comb 88 is provided. Comb 88 extends between and is supported by the frames 68 and 68 for rotation about the longitudinal axis of shaft 66. Comb 88 is provided with fingers 90, 91, 92 and 93 which extend from about the 4 oclock position to about the 12 oclock position as seen in FIG. 4. The comb and fingers are in constant communication with the idler rollers. The fingers 90, 91, 92 and 93 may be shorter than illustrated. The fingers in the preferred embodiment will extend for only 90 arcuate degrees of the roll 70.

As illustrated, the curvature of the fingers is on an exaggerated scale. The fingers have a crown configuration so as to cause the strips 80 to assume an arcuate disposition similar to the manner as that described above in connection with apparatus 10. The comb 88 and finger 90 are arcuate in configuration as shown in the end view illustrated in FIG. 4 and are preferably made from a self-lubricating type of polymer plastic such as Teflon. The comb 88 extends between and is in frictional engagement with frames 68 and 68.

As shown in FIG. 3, the web 72 has been cut away in order that the structure thereunder may be clearly shown. The leading ends ofthe fingers 90, 91, 92 and 93 may extend in front of the blades 82, 82', and 82". Hence, the web 22 may contact the leading ends of the fingers prior to contact with the blades to completely relieve forces of the web against the blade and facilitate cutting of the web into strips.

The exact placement of the fingers may be varied depending upon the web material and may be determined by varying the position of the comb 88 and fingers until an optimum condition has been achieved. Altemately, the fingers may be positioned immediately behind the blades and the cut web material may contact the fingers immediately after being cut. In FIG. 4 the finger 90 is positioned in front of the blades as illustrated by the rise in the web material immediately prior to contact with the blade. The apparatus 64 is in all other respects identical or similar to the apparatus 10.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Slitting apparatus comprising an idler roll, a strip blade adjacent a side face of said roller and projecting beyond the periphery of the roller so that the blade may slit a web contacting the roller, means providing a crown support surface on the roller periphery for strips cut from a web so that the middle portion of the strip is further from the axis of the roller than the side edges of the strip.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said crown support surface on the roller is provided by arcuate fingers on a comb supported adjacent the periphery of the roller.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a cassette for said strip blade, said cassette being supported by a stationary support for said roller.

4. Gang slitting apparatus comprising a plurality of coaxial idler rollers, a strip blade adjacent a side face of each roller, some of said strip blades being between adjacent ends of adjacent rollers, each strip blade projecting beyond the periphery of the rollers so that it may slit a web contacting the rollers, means providing a crown support surface on each roller for supporting strips cut from webs so that the middle portion of strips is further from the axis of the rollers than the side edges of the strips.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said lastmentioned means includes a comb, said comb having a plurality of arcuate fingers juxtaposed to the periphery of each idler roller, each finger having a crown surface and being narrower than the width of its respective roller.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including a shaft, a sleeve for each of said idler rollers, each sleeve being circumferentially disposed about the shaft, each sleeve having a head at one end, and means for supporting each strip blade at the head of each sleeve.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 including a cassette for each strip blade, each cassette being supported by one of said heads.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein each roller has a greater diameter at a middle portion than it does at its ends so as to define said crown support surface, a hollow sleeve within said roller, and bearings between said idler and sleeve.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein each idler roller is mounted on a hollow support which is telescoped within an adjacent roller.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein each blade is flat and generally perpendicular to the axis of said rollers.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including micrometer adjustment means for varying the width of cut strips. 

1. Slitting apparatus comprising an idler roll, a strip blade adjacent a side face of said roller and projecting beyond the periphery of the roller so that the blade may slit a web contacting the roller, means providing a crown support surface on the roller periphery for strips cut from a web so that the middle portion of the strip is further from the axis of the roller than the side edges of the strip.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said crown support surface on the roller is provided by arcuate fingers on a comb supported adjacent the periphery of the roller.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a cassette for said strip blade, said cassette being supported by a stationary support for said roller.
 4. Gang slitting apparatus comprising a plurality of coaxial idler rollers, a strip blade adjacent a side face of each roller, some of said strip blades being between adjacent ends of adjacent rollers, each strip blade projecting beyond the periphery of the rollers so that it may slit a web contacting the rollers, means providing a crown support surface on each roller for supporting strips cut from webs so that the middle portion of strips is further from the axis of the rollers than the side edges of the strips.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a comb, said comb having a plurality of arcuate fingers juxtaposed to the periphery of each idler roller, each finger having a crown surface and being narrower than the width of its respective roller.
 6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including a shaft, a sleeve for each of said idler rollers, each sleeve being circumferentially disposed about the shaft, each sleeve having a head at one end, and means for supporting each strip blade at the head of each sleeve.
 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 including a cassette for each strip blade, each cassette being supported by one of said heads.
 8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein each roller has a greater diameter at a middle portion than it does at its ends so as to define said crown support surface, a hollow sleeve within said roller, and bearings between said idler and sleeve.
 9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein each idler roller is mounted on a hollow support which is telescoped within an adjacent roller.
 10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein each blade is flat and generally perpendicular to the axis of said rollers.
 11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including micrometer adjustment means for varying the width of cut strips. 